Floatable Sandwich Pouch

ABSTRACT

A floatable sandwich bag is provided. The floatable sandwich pouch also includes a sealing mechanism for sealing the floatable sandwich bag and a holding strap for securing the floatable sandwich bag in a rolled-up position, The holding strap includes an internal magnetic locking assembly.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of Use

The invention relates to a storage for food items and more particularly to a specific configuration for a floatable sandwich bag that includes a sealing zipper and a magnetic holding strap for holding the floatable sandwich bag in a rolled up configuration.

2. Description of Prior Art (Background)

Conventional packaging incorporates a variety of materials to protect and insulate a packaged item. One of these conventional packaging materials is known as “bubble-pack.” Bubble-pack consists of two layers of thin plastic material, such as polyethylene or vinyl formed with random bubbles between the layers and filled with air at time of manufacture. Bubble-pack requires large rolls of bubble material that displace a great deal of volume in storage before use.

Bubble-pack is bulky, and therefore expensive to ship and to store during the period before it is put to use. Furthermore, conventional bubble-pack provides limited protection in certain applications because of the fixed bubble diameter, height, and count in a given material area.

Another conventional packaging material is pre-shaped styrofoam objects. An example of this is styrofoam “peanuts,” which are distributed in mass around a packaged article. Another example is pre-formed styrofoam blocks which are fitted to restrain a packaged item. Styrofoam blocks prevent the packaged item from moving in directions during travel. Styrofoam material experiences some of the same disadvantages of the bubble-pack. Styrofoam material is bulky and expensive to ship and store. Furthermore styrofoam provides limited protection in certain applications because of the fixed dimensions and shape of the styrofoam.

Inflatable packaging devices have overcome some of the limitations of previous packaging materials. Inflatable packaging devices may be shipped and stored in a deflated condition, thereby reducing the expense of shipment and storage. Furthermore, inflatable packaging devices provide cushions of filler material, such as air, which is under pressure. The filler material functions to absorb and redistribute forces acting on the packages, thereby protecting a delicate item of merchandise encapsulated and suspended therein, Articles encapsulated by the inflatable packaging device are prevented from substantially moving m directions relative to the packaging.

The following list of patents disclose several improvements of inflatable packaging devices and are hereby incorporated by reference: U.S. Pat. No. 4,597,244, issued Jul. 1, 1986 for “Method For Forming An Inflated Wrapping;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,123, issued Dec. 27, 1988 for “Rolled-up Packaging System and Method;” m U.S. Pat. No. 4,872,558, issued Oct. 10, 1989, for “Bag-In-Bag Packaging System;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,918,904, issued Apr. 24, 1994, for “Clam-Like Packaging System;” U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,530, issued Oct. 21, 1994, for “Method for Forming Bag-In-Bag Packaging System;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,856, issued Dec. 28, 1993, for “Packaging Device That is Flexible, Inflatable, and Reusable and Shipping Method Using the Device;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,830 issued Jun. 27, 1995, for “Continuous, Inflatable Plastic Wrapping Material;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,274, issued Aug. 29, 1995, for “Inflatable Package Insert;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,235 issued Sep. 5, 1995, for “Bag With Squeeze Valve and Method For Packaging an Article Therein;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,487,470 issued Jan. 30, 1996, for “Merchandise Encapsulating Packaging System and Method Therefor;” U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,532 issued Dec. 31, 1996, for “Self-Sealing Inflatable Bag and Method For Packaging an Article Therein;” and U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,691 issued Jan. 27, 1998 for “Self-Closing and Self-Sealing Valve Device For Use With Inflatable Structures.”

Some of the above patents disclose air packaging devices involving distinct, separate pouches or bags that are manufactured from two or more plies. For example, several of the inventions disclose a four-ply bag, which are used to form outer and inner chambers. The outer chamber is inflated with a filler material, such as air and is separated from the inner chamber. The inner chamber retains the packaged item, thereby providing a total air cushion around the product.

A disadvantage of these air packaging devices is that they are bulky when inflated, and require a substantial amount of packaging space. Furthermore, the shapes they take when inflated are often not convenient for packaging in containers having cubical dimensions. This entails increased cost for the increased amount of packaging space required.

Therefore, it would be advantageous in the art to provide a packaging device with advantages of previous air packaging systems, while providing improved packaging dimensions. It would be a further advancement in the art to provide an packaging device which floats when immersed in water such that the top of the device is supported above the water to help prevent water from entering the packaging device.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The present invention provides a sealable and floatable sandwich bag wherein the top of the bag is supported above the water. The floatable sandwich bag includes a sealable bag; a zipper for sealing the sealable bag; a hanging ring connected to the sealable bag; and a holding strap attached to the sealable bag.

The invention is also directed towards a holding strap for a floatable sandwich bag, the holding strap includes a food grade vinyl top layer, a food grade vinyl bottom layer and an internal magnetic locking assembly disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer. The internal magnetic locking assembly includes a ferromagnetic carrier substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; a first plurality of magnets disposed along a section of the top surface, wherein the first plurality of magnets disposed along the top surface are arranged with alternating magnetic polarities; a second plurality of magnets disposed along a section of the bottom surface, wherein the second plurality of magnets disposed along the bottom surface are arranged with alternating magnetic polarities, and wherein the second plurality of magnets disposed along the section of the bottom surface are disposed along a section opposite to the first plurality of magnets disposed along the section of the top surface and engage the first plurality of magnets when the holding strap is rolled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The subject matter which is regarded as the invention is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a floatable sandwich pouch in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a rear view of the floatable sandwich pouch shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the floatable sandwich pouch shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the top of the holding strap shown in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5A is a top perspective view of the internal magnetic locking assembly of the holding strap shown in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 5B is a bottom perspective view of the internal magnetic locking assembly of the holding strap shown in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the top of the holding strap shown in FIG. 3 ;

FIG. 7 is an operational view of the floatable sandwich pouch shown in FIG. 3 ; and

FIG. 8 is a second operational view of the floatable sandwich pouch shown in FIG. 3 .

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following brief definition of terms shall apply throughout the application:

The term “comprising” means including but not limited to, and should be interpreted in the manner it is typically used in the patent context;

The phrases “in one embodiment,” “according to one embodiment,” and the like generally mean that the particular feature, structure, or characteristic following the phrase may be included in at least one embodiment of the present Invention, and may be included in more than one embodiment of the present invention (importantly, such phrases do not necessarily refer to the same embodiment);

If the specification describes something as “exemplary” or an “example,” it should be understood that refers to a non-exclusive example; and

If the specification states a component or feature “may,” “can,” “could.” “should,” “preferably,” “possibly,” “typically,” “optionally,” “for example,” or “might” (or other such language) be included or have a characteristic, that particular component or feature is not required to be included or to have the characteristic.

Referring, now to FIG. 1 there is shown a pictorial view of the floatable sandwich pouch 10 in accordance with the present invention. Floatable sandwich pouch 10 includes holding strap 12, grip 14, ring 18, sealable bag 16, and zipper 19. It will be appreciated that sealable bag is seamed at the. edges forms a watertight pouch when sealed by zipper 19. It will be appreciated that bag 16 may be any suitable food grade vinyl such as polyethylene vinyl acetate or ethylene vinyl acetate that is lead free, chlorine free, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) free, and bisphenol A (BPA) free, Referring also to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 there is shown a rear and front view, respectively, of the floatable sandwich pouch shown in FIG. 1 .

Referring also to FIG. 4 there is shown a top perspective view of the top layer 40 of the holding strap 12 shown in FIG. 3 . It will be appreciated that holding strap top 40 may be any suitable food grade vinyl such as polyethylene vinyl acetate or ethylene vinyl acetate that is lead free, chlorine free, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) free, and bisphenol A (BPA) free. Also shown in FIG. 4 is grip 14 attached to top face 40A of holding strap top 40.

Referring also to FIG. 5A there is shown a top perspective view of the internal magnetic locking assembly of the holding strap shown in FIG. 3 . Shown in FIG. 5A is carrier substrate 44. Carrier substrate 44 may be any suitable ferromagnetic material. Also shown in FIG. 5A are magnets 42 and magnets 43 deposited along a section of top face 44A of carrier substrate 44. Also shown in FIG. 5A are magnets 42 and magnets 43 deposited along a bottom section, opposite of magnets 42 and magnets 43 deposited along a section of top face 44A, of carrier substrate 44. Referring also to FIG. 5B magnets 42 and magnets 43 are deposited along a section of bottom face 44B. It will be appreciated that magnets 42 and magnets 43 may be deposited by any suitable thin film or sputtering technique. It will also be appreciated that magnets 42 and magnets 43 may be magnetized to the suitable polarity after deposition of a ferromagnetic material or alloy.

Magnets 42 and 43 are magnets having opposite magnetic poles. Magnets 42 and 43 may be any suitable magnetic alloy such as ferrite that contains at least one of the three main magnetic elements, such as, for example, iron (Fe), nickel Ni),(or cobalt (Co). Further examples include iron and carbon, alnico (iron, nickel, cobalt, and aluminum), permalloy (iron and nickel), and neodymium magnets comprised of alloys of neodymium, iron and boron forming the crystal structure Nd2Fe14B.

Referring also to HG. 6 there is shown a top perspective view of the bottom layer 46 of the holding strap 12 shown in FIG. 3 . it will be appreciated that holding strap bottom 46 may be any suitable food grade vinyl such as polyethylene vinyl acetate or ethylene vinyl acetate that is lead free, chlorine free, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) free, and bisphenol A (BPA) free. Also shown in FIG. 4 is grip 14 attached to top face 40A of holding strap top 40. It will be appreciated that holding strap top 40 and holding strap bottom 46 encapsulate carrier substrate 44 and magnets 42 and magnets 43 deposited along the top and bottom of the carrier substrate.

Referring also to G. 7 there is shown an operational view of the floatable sandwich pouch shown in FIG. 1 . In operation, a food item is placed in floatable sandwich pouch 10. The floatable sandwich bag 16 is rolled and sealed by pouch sealing zipper 19.

The floatable sandwich pouch 10 is then ready for storage in a cooler having ice. As the ice melts the floatable sandwich pouch 10 is held above the melted water by the buoyancy of the floatable sandwich pouch 10.

Referring also to FIG. 8 there is shown a second operational view of the floatable sandwich pouch 10 shown in FIG. 1 . In this operation the floatable sandwich pouch 10 is secured upside down by ring 18 to hook 81 to allow floatable sandwich pouch 10 to drain after cleaning inside of floatable sandwich pouch 10.

It should be understood that the foregoing description is only illustrative of the invention. Thus, various alternatives and modifications can be devised by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variances that fall within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A floatable sandwich bag comprising: a sealable bag; a zipper for sealing the sealable bag; a hanging ring connected to the sealable bag; and a holding strap attached to the sealable bag.
 2. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 1 wherein the sealable bag comprises a food grade vinyl bag.
 3. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 2 wherein the food grade vinyl bag comprises a polyethylene vinyl acetate bag.
 4. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 2 wherein the food grade vinyl bag comprises a ethylene vinyl acetate bag.
 5. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 1 wherein the holding strap comprises: a top layer, wherein the top layer comprises a food grade vinyl; a bottom layer wherein the bottom layer comprises a food grade vinyl; and an internal magnetic locking assembly disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer.
 6. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 5 wherein the internal magnetic locking assembly comprises: a ferromagnetic carrier substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; a first plurality of magnets disposed along a section of the top surface, wherein the first plurality of magnets disposed along the top surface are arranged with alternating magnetic polarities; and a second plurality of magnets disposed along a section of the bottom surface, wherein the second plurality of magnets disposed along the bottom surface are arranged with alternating magnetic polarities, and wherein the second plurality of magnets disposed along the section of the bottom surface are disposed along a section opposite to the first plurality of magnets disposed along the section of the top surface.
 7. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 6 wherein the first and second plurality of magnets comprise neodymium magnets.
 8. The floatable sandwich bag. as in claim 6 wherein the first and second plurality of magnets comprise an iron, nickel, cobalt, and aluminum magnetic alloy.
 9. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 6 wherein the first and second plurality of magnets comprise an iron and nickel magnetic alloy.
 10. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 6 wherein the first and second plurality of magnets comprise an iron magnetic alloy.
 11. A holding strap for a floatable sandwich bag, the holding strap comprising: a top layer, wherein the top layer comprises a food grade vinyl; a bottom layer wherein the bottom layer comprises a food grade vinyl; and au internal magnetic locking assembly disposed between the top layer and the bottom laver.
 11. The holding strap as in claim 11 wherein the internal magnetic locking assembly comprises: a ferromagnetic carrier substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; a first plurality of magnets disposed along a section of the top surface, wherein the first plurality of magnets disposed along the top surface are arranged with alternating magnetic polarities; a second plurality of magnets disposed along a section of the bottom surface, wherein the second plurality of magnets disposed along the bottom surface are arranged with alternating magnetic polarities, and wherein the second plurality of magnets disposed along the section of the bottom surface are disposed along a section opposite to the first plurality of magnets disposed along the section of the top surface.
 13. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 12 wherein the first and second plurality of magnets comprise neodymium magnets.
 14. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 12, wherein the first and second plurality of magnets comprise an iron, nickel, cobalt, and aluminum magnetic alloy.
 15. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 12 wherein the first and second plurality of magnets comprise an iron and nickel magnetic alloy.
 16. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 12 wherein the first and second plurality of magnets comprise an iron magnetic alloy.
 17. A floatable sandwich bag comprising: a sealable bag, wherein the sealable bag comprises a food grade vinyl bag; a zipper for sealing the sealable bag; a hanging ring connected to the sealable bag; a holding strap attached to the sealable bag, wherein the holding strap comprises: a top layer, wherein the top layer comprises a food grade vinyl; a bottom layer wherein the bottom layer comprises a food grade vinyl; an internal magnetic locking assembly disposed between the top layer and the bottom layer, wherein the internal magnetic locking assembly comprises: a ferromagnetic carrier substrate having a top surface and a bottom surface; a first plurality of magnets disposed along a section of the top surface, wherein the first plurality of magnets disposed along the top surface are arranged with alternating magnetic polarities; and a second plurality of magnets disposed along a section of the bottom surface, wherein the second plurality of magnets disposed along the bottom surface are arranged with alternating magnetic polarities, and wherein the second plurality of magnets disposed along the section of the bottom surface are disposed along a section opposite to the first plurality of magnets disposed along the section of the top surface.
 18. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 17 wherein the first and second plurality of magnets comprise an iron magnetic alloy.
 19. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 17 wherein the first and second plurality of magnets comprise neodymium magnets.
 20. The floatable sandwich bag as in claim 17 wherein the first and second plurality of magnets comprise an iron, nickel, cobalt, and aluminum magnetic alloy. 